Illuminations for Peace -- Ovation to Louis XVIII. -- His
departure for France -- Peace with France -- Cheaper provisions
-- Distinguished foreign guests in London -- Arrival of Emperor
of Russia and King of Prussia -- Movements of the great folk --
Popularity of General Blücher.
Easter Monday fell on the 11th of April, and on that day London was
brilliantly illuminated, very much better than usual; but then lights
and transparencies had only been, hitherto, used for Victories--this
was for PEACE, which was welcomed by all with heartfelt thankfulness.
The Duchess of Oldenburgh, at the Pulteney Hotel, had "THANKS BE TO
GOD" in variegated lamps. The Duke of Northumberland wreathed the
head of his immortal lion with laurels; the statue of King Charles
I. close by, was covered with laurels. Carlton House had its pillars
entwined with lamps, the entablature marked out with them. On the
parapet were six large stars; in the centre were the Arms of France
supported by the figure of Fame with laurels, under which was Louis
XVIII. A pedestal of fire supported two large stars: on the left,
were Russia and Austria; on the right, Prussia and England; whilst
in the centre, was a bit of deliciously bad French--"_Vive_ LES
BOURBONS," all done in silver lamps.
I have but space to mention one more, and that is Ackermann's in the
Strand, which was, if possible, more emblematical than usual. It is
thus described: "A Transparency: The Tyrant Corsican is attacked
by Death under the walls of Paris; the grisly Monarch has placed
his foot upon his breast, and holds in one hand an hour-glass,
which, almost expended, leaves him just time enough to reflect upon
the murders and other atrocities which have attended his wicked
Career. The other hand grasps a massive iron spear, with which he is
supposed to have been dealing out destruction among the armies of
Bonaparte. The fallen Tyrant, in an attitude of terror, supplicates
Death to arrest his fatal purpose. Beneath him are broken eagles,
torn National Flags, &c., and in his hand he grasps the shattered
bloody remains of a sword. On the Walls of Paris are seen Cossacks,
and other Russians, Prussians, Austrians, &c., who are raising
the standard of the Bourbons. This transparency was surmounted by
a brilliant circle of gas-lights, indicative of the union of the
world in the Holy Cause; over this circle was a large white flag
spotted with _fleurs de lys_, hung out in triumphant display over
the tattered, debased, tricoloured banner of the Revolution. On
each side of the principal transparency was a smaller one; the
first representing Bonaparte blowing bubbles, which burst as fast
as created: in the other, he was seen amusing himself with building
houses and Castles of Cards, which, tumbling down as fast as they are
put up, are truly emblematic of the vast achievements of his reign:
a bottle under the table indicative that all his designs have ended
in smoke, and a lanthorn to be useful to him should he be inclined to
look after his vanished Crown."
The Illuminations were general throughout the Country, and one
transparency at Aberdeen (April 14th) deserves notice. It was in the
window of a Stocking Manufacturer, and represented a Dutch woman
fitting herself with a comfortable worsted stocking, exclaiming,
"Thank God! Aberdeen hose again."
LOUIS _le desiré_ was laid up with gout at Hartwell in
Buckinghamshire, and did not hurry himself to enter into his kingdom.
It had to be done, however, and, moreover, he had to face a public
reception in London on the 20th of April. The Prince Regent, and
many of the Nobility, met him at the Abercorn Arms at Stanmore:
his postillions being clad in white, with white hats, and white
cockades. This fancy for exhibiting white, in honour of the colour
of the Bourbon flag, took odd expression, for some people exhibited
sheets, and even pillow cases were requisitioned. All the nobility
and gentry of that part of Middlesex, and, indeed, almost all who
could muster a horse, went a mile or so from Stanmore to meet the
King, and accompany him; nay, there were even the regulation fools,
who took the horses out of his Carriage, and drew him in what they
called _triumph_ to the Abercorn Arms, where the poor old gouty King
was lifted out, and tottered to the Inn, where the Regent awaited
him. No longer the Comte de Lisle, he was now Louis the Eighteenth,
the _desiré_ of his people, and a very important person.
They waited at the Inn until the procession was formed, and then they
set out in the following order, at twenty minutes past three:--
One hundred Gentlemen on horseback.
Horse Trumpeters in their splendid gold lace dresses.
A numerous party of the Royal Horse Guards.
Six Royal Carriages, beautiful bays to each, the servants
with white Cockades.
An outrider to each Carriage.
A party of the Royal Horse Guards.
_1st Carriage._ The great Officers of the French Crown; the Dukes
d'Havre and de Grammont, Captains of his Majesty's Guards; Count de
Blacas, Grand Master of the Wardrobe; and Chevalier de Riviere, his
Majesty's first Equerry.
_2nd Carriage._ The King of France, the Prince Regent, the Duchesse
d'Angoulême, the Prince de Condé.
_3rd Carriage._ The Duc de Bourbon.
_4th Carriage._ The Duchesse d'Angoulême's Ladies of Honour.
_5th Carriage._ Equerries of his Majesty.
_6th Carriage._ Other Officers of the Royal Household.
An Officer of the Royal Horse Guards rode at each window, and a
numerous party of Horse closed the procession.
They proceeded at a slow trot till they came to Kilburn, when they
commenced a walking pace, and a groom to the head of each horse was
added.
The greatest respect was shown by the people on the route, who
displayed laurels, white ribbons, &c., and hailed the Royal party
with general acclamation. They passed through Hyde Park, and down
Piccadilly, to Albemarle Street; down which they turned, receiving
the compliments of all the Royal Princesses, who had been invited by
the Duchess of Oldenburgh to see the Procession from the Pulteney
Hotel, and stopped at Grillon's Hotel, where the King was to lodge.
Here the King, leaning on the arm of the Prince of Wales, hobbled
into a drawing-room, and sank, exhausted, into an arm-chair; but as
soon as he had recovered somewhat, he thanked the Prince Regent in no
measured terms. He expressed his gratitude for the favours conferred
upon him, stating that he had been indebted to his Royal Highness
for the preservation of his life, and even for his daily subsistence,
and he had now to express his obligations to his Royal Highness for
the restoration of the House of Bourbon. It was impossible for him to
find language to convey in adequate terms the sense of gratitude he
felt, or the delight he now experienced.
The Prince Regent replied briefly, deprecating any gratitude towards
himself, and then the King took off the Cordon and Star of the Order
of the Holy Ghost, which he wore, and with them decorated the Prince
Regent, who then retired.
The next day, at Carlton House, he was made a Knight of the Garter,
then held a _levée_ at Grillon's Hotel, and received an Address
from the Corporation of the City of London. He left London early on
the morning of the 23rd of April escorted part of the way by the
Duke of Sussex; and as soon as he entered the County of Kent he was
met by Lord Camden, who was Lord-Lieutenant, and, accompanied by
him, reached Dover. On the way, refreshments were ordered, and in
readiness, for the King at every inn where he changed horses, so
that he might not experience any delay or inconvenience. "On the
King stopping at Dartford to change horses, when the animals were
taken from the Carriage, the populace proceeded to draw it without
horses, and even ascended the very steep hill out of the town; but
the numbers who exerted their strength to it enabled them to proceed
at a very quick pace. At Rochester, the populace drew his Majesty's
Carriage above a Mile."[19]
[Footnote 19: This insensate folly still obtains
occasionally; but I never met with but one instance of
women sinking to the same depth of degradation. It is in
the _Morning Chronicle_ of the 5th of May, 1814, on p. 2,
under heading _St. Sebastian Mail_.--"Don Antonio entered
Valencia in the Coach of the President of the Regency. His
Majesty would not permit the Arragonese Ladies to draw his
Coach."]
On this day, 23rd of April, hostilities were suspended between Great
Britain and France, both by sea and land. On the morning of the
24th the Prince Regent, and the Duke of Clarence took leave of the
French King, who set sail for France, and arrived at Calais without
accident. Napoleon left Fontainbleau, where he took an affectionate
farewell of his Old Guard, on the 21st of April, and embarked at
Frejus, in Provence, for Elba, on the 28th of April, where he landed
on the 4th of May.
On the 1st of May the Marquis of Wellington was created a Duke, and
on the 10th of the same month the House of Commons granted him an
annuity of £10,000, in addition to the grants already bestowed upon
him--which might be redeemed for a sum of £400,000 to be spent in an
estate.
At last we had got Peace, so long desired, which was to be the
panacea for all evils. The war had been so long, that its taxation
almost ceased to be burdensome. The farmers had had a fine time of
it, and had coined money, and, somehow or other, our trade with
the world had not come to a standstill, in spite of Napoleon's
fulminations, and our own Orders in Council. Still the return of
Peace brought with it a drop in the prices of most things. Pepper
fell from 21d. to 14d. per lb. Sugar from 120s. to 90s. per cwt.
Brandy could be bought at 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d. per gallon, and a
general drop of about 20 per cent. took place on all manufactured
goods. Here is a picture of "Peace and Plenty, or, Good News for John
Bull!!!"
Louis XVIII. proposes "Here's the Prince Regent, and his Allies!"
to which John Bull replies, "Huzza! with all my heart, and may we
never want better friends." There is a board ladder, down which
come provisions lowered in price, as Porter 3d. a pot. Bread 9d. a
quartern. On the table, Beef is 4d. a pound. Claret 1s. 6d. a bottle;
whilst Burgundy in the wine-cooler is priced at 2s. a bottle. On the
left, the land is being tilled, and goods are being landed, whilst
Napoleon is seen in the distance sitting disconsolately on the island
of Elba.
[Illustration: "Peace and Plenty, or, Good News for John Bull!!!"]
We were now to have an influx of visitors to England. The Duchess of
Oldenburgh was still here, being fêted and lionized, having dinner
at Carlton House, or a steak done on a shovel, and washed down with
stout, at Whitbread's Brewery. The Prince of Orange landed at Harwich
on the 29th of April, and, after seeing the Prince Regent, "would
a-wooing go," and accompanied the Regent on a visit to his daughter
as her acknowledged suitor. Marshal Blücher (old General Vorwärts)
came over here very early in May, and took up his residence at the
Foreign Hotel in Leicester Square. But all arrivals paled before the
expected visit of the Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the King of
Prussia. The kitchen in St. James's Palace was repaired, and newly
fitted up for the establishment of the two first-named potentates.
And "A pair of massy golden Eagles, nearly as large as life, were
made a few days since by Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, for the Prince
Regent's table. This beautiful ornament is to be placed, as we
understand, at the head of the dinner table near the Royal Guests,
as a respectful compliment to the Emperor of Russia, and the King of
Prussia, whose standards bear this imperial bird. The eagle is placed
with his talons on the verge of a nest, which is most admirably
formed after Nature. The beak is turned to a horizontal position, and
his eye fixed on the object below; the wings are gracefully extended,
and raised above the head. In the back of the bird is concealed a
lamp to contain burning spirits, over which any plate may be applied
with ease, and made warm."
At length the promised day arrived, and on the 7th of June, the
Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussia, came into London quite
unannounced, and quietly.
_Morning Chronicle_, June 8, 1814: "His Imperial Majesty, Alexander
of Russia, his Prussian Majesty, and the illustrious Princes and
Princesses in their respective suites, arrived yesterday in London,
at different hours, and by different routes, to avoid the _éclat_
of a public entry, and, consequently, to avoid the pressure of the
multitudes who had assembled to welcome their approach. The Crowds,
which had gathered from all parts of the Metropolis, in the direction
which they were expected to take, was immense. In fact, from Charing
Cross to Blackheath the way was almost impassable; and it was well
that the Royal Visitors were advised to come _incog._, for it would
have been with infinite difficulty that the escort could have
penetrated through the compact body of the people assembled, without
the interference of military force, by which mischief might have
ensued.
"We are informed, indeed, that the route which was taken, arose from
an arrangement previously made, in consequence of certain recent
events, which made the appearance of an illustrious Personage in a
Procession, inconvenient: and that as he could not go forth to meet
and receive his high guests, it was determined that they should be
advised to enter the Metropolis privately. We do not believe this
sarcastic method of accounting for the disappointment which was so
generally felt; as we cannot suppose that, because his Royal Highness
could not himself partake of the magnificent display which was
prepared for the occasion, he would prevent it from taking place
altogether. We believe, on the contrary, that the Emperor of Russia
and King of Prussia have uniformly expressed their earnest desire of
avoiding all ceremony, and of being allowed to do in London as they
did in Paris, to go about and see everything worthy of notice without
ostentation.
"The Emperor of Russia arrived at half-past two o'clock, at the
Pulteney Hotel, in so private a manner that the post-boys did not
know who they were driving. He travelled in Count Lieven's Carriage,
without a single attendant; he passed all the attendants in the
lower part of the Hotel without his being known, and had run up to
the first flight of stairs, when Prince Gargarine announced that it
was the Emperor. At the same instant his sister, the Grand Duchess,
met him on the stairs, and they saluted each other in the most
affectionate manner. The Emperor afterwards embraced the interesting
child, Prince Alexander.[20]
[Footnote 20: The son of the Duchess of Oldenburgh, then
about three years old.]
"The joyful tidings of the arrival of the Emperor resounded, not only
throughout the house, but in the street, where there was an immense
concourse of people, who expressed their joy by repeated huzzas and
'Long live the Emperor,' &c., &c. He, in consequence, appeared,
a short time afterwards, at the balcony, and bowed in the most
condescending manner, and which he continued to do, at intervals,
till eleven o'clock at night, the people rending the air with shouts
of applause. The Earl of Morton, the Queen's Chamberlain, waited upon
the Emperor in the name of the Queen, to express her congratulations
on his arrival in England.
"At half-past four the Emperor went in Count Lieven's Carriage,
accompanied by his Excellency, to pay his respects to the Prince
Regent at Carlton House; but he went in so private a manner that
the escort of Horse who were appointed to attend him, missed him,
but they escorted him back to the Pulteney Hotel. His Imperial
Majesty was most kindly received by the Prince Regent. The Emperor
declined seeing any visitors yesterday at the Pulteney Hotel, but the
inquiries of the Royal Family, the Foreign Princes in that country,
and personages of distinction were innumerable. Pulteney Hotel,
for the reception of the Emperor, has been fitted up in the most
magnificent and princely style; at least, the principal apartments
which were occupied by the Grand Duchess, who has given them up to
her brother, the Emperor. No pains, nor expense, has been spared by
Mr. Escudier on the occasion; he has had a new state bed put up by
Mr. Oakley for the Emperor. The Grand Duchess and the Emperor dined
together, without any other person being present.
"The Prince Regent, for the purpose of showing all due attention
to the Emperor, prepared a Royal residence for him in St. James's
Palace, in the Duke of Cumberland's apartments, which, although
small, are extremely splendid, which has been newly fitted up for
the occasion, a new state bed of Crimson Velvet, with gold lace and
fringe, a crown at the top, and appropriate ornaments. Yesterday,
the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, the Duke of Montrose, and
Col. Thornton, were in attendance the whole of the day, till seven
o'clock, full dressed, in expectation of the Emperor coming there to
take up his residence. A guard of honour, with two bands, in their
state uniforms, attended in the Court-yard, opposite the house,
during the day.
"The King of Prussia, his sons, and their numerous suites, came
also in a very private manner, and arrived at Clarence House, St.
James's about three o'clock. A party of the Yeomen of the Guard,
Royal Servants, and attendants, as at Cumberland House, were in
readiness to receive him. His Majesty appeared highly delighted at
his residence, and, after viewing it, partook of some refreshment. A
few minutes before four o'clock, his Majesty, attended by his Aide
de Camp, went to Carlton House to pay his respects in a very private
manner to the Prince Regent. His Highness received him in a similar
gracious manner as he did the Emperor of Russia. His Majesty remained
with the Prince about half an hour. His Majesty received visits from
the Prince of Orange, the Duchess of Oldenburgh, and a number of
others. His Majesty visited the Duke and Duchess of York whose house
is opposite to Clarence House.
"At a quarter past eight o'clock, her Majesty, and the Princesses
Augusta and Mary, arrived at the Palace from Windsor. At nine o'clock
her Majesty held a Private Court, for the purpose of receiving one of
the principal gentlemen of the Emperor of Russia's Court, to formally
announce to the Queen the arrival of the Emperor of Russia in her
Capital. He was introduced to the presence of her Majesty by Earl
Morton, her Chamberlain, and was most graciously received, and her
Majesty expressed her pleasure to receive the Emperor.
"At six o'clock, the Marshal General Blücher arrived in St. James's
Park, by the Horse Guards, in the Prince Regent's open Carriage,
escorted by a party of light horse. He was recognized by an eager
public, who paid their respects to such a gallant man, by whose
persevering skill the Allies proved victorious. The Carriage was
surrounded and followed by an incalculable number of horsemen and
pedestrians, all vieing with each other who should give him the
most marked attention, and the greatest applause. The Drivers, as
directed, made first for Carlton House, to pay his first respects to
the Prince Regent, and that his Royal Highness might have the first
pleasure of receiving him. The drivers made for the gates in the Park
near the Stables, and, no sooner were the gates opened to receive
the carriages, than there was a general rush in of horsemen and the
public at large. Such was the zeal of the populace to follow the
gallant and venerable General, who has so justly acquired so much
military fame, that all restraint upon them was obliged to give way:
the two sentinels at the gates, with their muskets, were laid on the
ground, the porter was completely overpowered, and it was, with the
greatest difficulty, with the assistance of several persons, that
he could get the gates shut. The multitude proceeded up the yard of
Carlton House, with the General's Carriage, shouting the praise of
Blücher.
"The Carriage stopped at the side door, but he was not allowed to
enter Carlton House that way. On its being known who had arrived,
Cols. Bloomfield and Congreve came out, dressed in full regimentals,
and received the General uncovered, and in that state conducted
him, arm in arm, to the front and principal entrance of Carlton
House, that all possible respect might be shown him, followed by the
populace. The cause of rejoicing being known to the crowd assembled
in Pall Mall, they lost all respect for the regularity of the place:
they instantly scaled the walls, and lodges, in great numbers, and
their impetuous zeal upon this occasion was indulged, and the great
doors of the hall were thrown open to them, some of the gentlemen on
horseback nearly entering the hall.
"After the first interview of the General with the Prince, as
interesting a scene took place, probably, as ever was beheld. A
British Sovereign, in the person of the Prince Regent, conferring
an honour on a foreign General, for his meritorious services, in
the midst of the acclamations of his people; and the Prince Regent
returned from his private apartments hand in hand with the gallant
Blücher, and in the centre of the grand Hall, surrounded publicly by
his people, placed on his shoulder, and fastened with his own hand, a
blue ribbon, to which was hung a beautiful medallion, with a likeness
of the Prince, richly set with diamonds. Marshal Blücher knelt whilst
the Prince was conferring the honour, and, on his rising, had the
honour to kiss the Prince's hand. The Prince and the General bowed to
the public, and their ecstasy and acclamations in return exceeds all
description.
"The General, afterwards, had an interview with the Prince for about
half an hour, and then proceeded in his Carriage to the house of Mr.
Gordon, in St. James's Palace, adjoining the Duke of Cumberland's,
followed by an immense multitude; some got into the Carriage with
him. The Crowd remained in the Court-yard till dark, huzzaing,
and the gallant General frequently showing himself at the window
to gratify them. The public were indulged with remaining in the
Court-yard at Carlton House during the evening, and they testified
their loud applause to all who arrived to partake of a grand dinner
given by the Prince to the King of Prussia, and his sons, the
Princes, the Prince of Mecklenburg, the Prince of Orange, several
other Foreigners of distinction, the most of the Foreign Ambassadors,
and Ministers, Count Munster, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke
of Cambridge, the Cabinet Ministers and their Ladies, the Officers of
the State and Household, and their Ladies.
"The Princes, sons of the King of Prussia, had the horses taken out
of their Carriage, and were drawn by the people to their Hotel in
Jermyn Street. The Prince de Metternich, General Platow" (our old
friend the Cossack Hetman), "and General Barclay de Tolly, drove to
the respective hotels taken for them. The only triumphal entry was
that of the venerable and gallant Blücher. He was met four miles
beyond Dartford, by a detachment of horse, and he approached town
amidst the enthusiastic shouts of surrounding myriads. They avoided
Shooter's Hill, and crossed Bexley Heath to Eltham. Indeed, the whole
way from Dover was one continued Jubilee."
Here I end the account given by "our own correspondent" of that day.
Its grammar and construction may be found fault with, but though
doubtless written in a great hurry, its facts are correct.
Rough old Blücher was, undoubtedly, of all the brilliant throng,
the favourite of the Mob. He shared with Schwartzenburg, Barclay
de Tolly, and Platoff in Swords of honour, value 200 guineas each,
given by the City of London. His popularity must have had its
inconveniences. When he went to Ascot races on the 10th of June, he
was cheered more than the Allied Sovereigns; it was as much as he
could get to the Royal Stand, hundreds of men and women insisting on
shaking hands with him the moment he alighted. When, after a race,
he rode down the Course in company with the Duke of York, he could
hardly get along, so great was the throng. It was only by shaking
thousands of hands, that he could make any progress. Nothing was
heard but shouts of "Blücher! Blücher!" the ladies in the Stands
waved their handkerchiefs, and the gallant old Bear saluted them in
turn.
[Illustration: Blücher Greeted by His Numerous Friends in the Park,
1814.]
There was a poem entitled--
"PRINCE BLÜCHER AND THE BRITISH LADIES.
A Free Paraphrase of Horace. Book 1, Ode 3.
'Lydia, dic, per ommes
Te deos oro,' &c.
Say, Ladies, by the Gods above,
Why, with such fond officious love,
Ye haste to spoil that Man of Glory,
Old BLÜCHER, doomed to live in Story?
Why should he dread the peaceful plain,
Whom War and dust assailed in vain?
Why should the Veteran fear to ride
On horseback at his Monarch's side;
Or, if he chance to take a drive,
Take chances to return alive?
Cleaves he the Thames? 'tis said, for him
The Ladies all will learn to swim!
Though, cat-like, ev'ry mother's daughter
Feels strong aversion to the water.
In vain he shuns the soap or razor,
Each maid becomes mustachio-praiser.
Though vile before, in him to smoke
Is only deemed a pleasant joke;
While, strange to say, the British Fair,
For his sake, doat upon grey hair!
Why does he hide? Nay rather let him
A petticoat and mantle get him;--
In this will BLÜCHER do no more
Than what ACHILLES did before;
Whom, though in other things outdone,
He might well imitate in one.
Thus may he safely pass along,
Unheeded, through the female throng;
For scarce, I ween, their rapture reaches
To any worth--but worth in Breeches."
Whenever he stirred out he was mobbed, he had to undergo as much
handshaking as any President of the United States of America; and
really, the Caricature of "Blücher greeted by his numerous Friends
in the Park," is not very much exaggerated (_see p._ 270). Poor old
"Vorwärts" is being prodded, and tickled, by his fair friends. Take
another instance. On the 24th of June, he visited Portsmouth, in
company with the Allied Sovereigns; but his friends (?) pursued him
there. Here is a contemporaneous account of how his friends treated
him. "After the amusements of the day had closed, with the setting
sun, an event occurred, which gave fresh life to the town. A Coach,
drawn by eight horses, drew up at the Crown Inn, or Clarence Hotel,
and, who should alight but the gallant Blücher. He was identified
on alighting from the Carriage, and on no occasion in London, were
the populace more numerous; the eagerness to grasp his hand, by
both sexes, was unparalleled. 'Blücher! Blücher!' filled the air.
'Shew me the Conqueror of the Tyrant:' 'Come forward, Blücher!' was
exclaimed on all sides. The gallant veteran appeared at the window
with his accustomed cheerfulness, and the air was rent with applause;
and it was several minutes before the disputants could agree whether
immediate silence was respectful. Lungs carried the day, and, when
the roar was out, the General, in English, with a bumper in his
hand, drank to the health of the Company. It may easily be imagined
in what manner this toast was returned.
"The populace became appeased, and soon after a Carriage drew up, and
was immediately surrounded. Blücher got into it in haste. A party of
sailors shoved in, and swore they would be true to a good Commander.
Up mounted half a dozen; but, at this time, an escort of dragoons,
previously stopped by the crowd, and, consequently kept back,
appeared. Some got off by accident, but two kept their stations.
The Government House was a few hundred yards distant, and the two
sailors, elated as Men of War's men by victory, danced on the top of
Blücher's Carriage."
"When BLÜCHER was told that, to add to his store,
The REGENT an Order design'd,
He said, 'I'm with Orders so cover'd, _before_,
I only can hang it _behind_.'
Sir Charles,[21] ever ready, due homage to pay,
Thus answer'd the vet'ran, 'If so,
Then all who have heard of thy actions will say
It ne'er can be hit by the foe.'"
[Footnote 21: Stewart.]
He was an inveterate gambler, but, on the principle that "dog does
not eat dog," whenever he played with the officers of his own staff,
he always returned them the money he won from them: but he gave one
of them, a Prussian Count, a lesson. Having won some £3,000 from
him, he sent for him next morning, and read him a lecture on the
folly of play, instancing himself as an example, ingrained, through
the practice of a lifetime, and he ended his jobation by telling his
sub. that he would return him his money, on condition that he would
promise never to lose more than a, comparatively speaking, nominal
sum a night. This the young man promised, and Blücher handed him half
his losses, keeping the other half sealed up for a twelvemonth, when
it might be had on application, if the promise had been kept.
Captain Gronow, does not give a pleasant picture of Blücher. "Marshal
Blücher, though a very fine fellow, was a very rough diamond, with
the manners of a Common Soldier. On his arrival in Paris, he went
every day to the _Salon_, and played the highest stakes at _rouge
et noir_. The _Salon_, during the time that the Marshal remained in
Paris, was crowded by persons who came to see him play. His manner of
playing was anything but gentlemanlike, and when he lost, he used to
swear in German at everything that was French, looking daggers at the
Croupiers. He generally managed to lose all he had about him, also
the money his servant, who was waiting in the ante-chamber, carried.
I recollect looking attentively at the manner in which he played;
he would put his right hand into his pocket, and bring out several
rouleaus of Napoleons, throwing them on the red or the black. If
he won the first _coup_, he would allow it to remain; but when the
Croupier stated that the table was not responsible for more than ten
thousand francs, then Blücher would roar like a lion, and rap out
oaths in his native language, which would doubtless have met with
great success at Billingsgate, if duly translated; fortunately, they
were not heeded, as they were not understood by the lookers-on."
The Hon. Grantley F. Berkeley[22] says "So madly in love with old
Blücher were the English populace, that, during a review, while one
mob was following the heels of the late Lord Londonderry, and another
the heels of Blücher, so that it was impossible for either hero even
to sneeze in private, both chanced to do the same thing. Blücher
was vociferously cheered for it, and Lord Londonderry hissed and
hooted--so much for the worth of popular worship.... Nothing could be
more remarkable than the perfect understanding that existed between
him and his admirers, considering that he knew not a word of what
was said to him, and they found his German quite as unintelligible
as their English. It was not then the fashion to bore remarkable
people for their autographs or photographs. His new friends, too,
were not aware that his signature was even more difficult to make out
than his remarks; they, therefore, rested content with the honour
of a grip from the old soldier, and talked of it ever after, in
the family circle, as the greatest honour that could have befallen
them.... The favour with which the Emperor was regarded was extended
to his uncouth Cossacks, which not even their filching and swallowing
the oil from the street lamps--gas then not having come into
use--affected in any material degree."
[Footnote 22: "My Life and Reminiscences," 1866, vol iii.
pp. 3 and 4.]